The calendar says it's summer, but that isn't about to stop a new ski shop from opening on Commonwealth Avenue in less than a month.
A branch of East Coast Alpine will be opening on Columbus Day weekend &- the third branch of a company that has quickly made a name for itself after its founding in 2002.
This year, The Improper Bostonian named them the best ski and snowboard equipment store in the Boston area for their "knowledgeable and professional" staff and expansive selection.
Which isn't to say the new location doesn't have a potentially problematic history: it's taking the place of Ski Market that went bankrupt after 30 years on 860 Comm. Ave.
East Coast owner Alpine John Sullivan seemed optimistic that his store would last in the new location.
"McDonald's has evolved its business model over the past 30 years to accommodate the new generation, and we feel our store has done the same thing," said Sullivan. "Our equipment may be the same [as Ski Market], but the ski equipment market going up 15 percent in the past year actually benefits us."
The location of the new store may benefit from its close proximity to the BU community, Sullivan said. With ski and snowboard clubs, ski teams and countless other student riders, the company is anticipating that a large percentage of its customers will be BU students.
Sullivan believes this, along with the location known historically as a ski store, should help create a band of loyal consumers.
College of Arts and Sciences freshman Mike Monte said he would ski this winter and "definitely" visit the new store.
Sullivan hopes that students will take advantage of trip offerings, leases and rentals that the company offers.
Project architects of MAK General Contractors, the company doing renovations on the building, said they shared the enthusiasm of Sullivan and the East Coast Alpine company.
"The previous store spread itself too thin over 30 years with other bad locations. The team of East Coast Alpine is young and energetic," said Scott Rudell, the project manager.
During the opening weekend in October, the store will be holding the movie premiere of a sports film by Poor Boyz Productions, in which professional skier Simon Dumont will be appearing.
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